A small-scale humane hatchery and chicken breeder. Breeding flocks rotated on pasture in a semi-free range system, and fed certified organic, non-gmo no-corn no-soy feed.
*** UPDATES CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS. MORE TO COME! ***
Day-Old Chicks, Hatching Eggs, & Started Pullets for local pickup.
2026 Offering
(Click each offering to reach the breeding detail page.)
Elk Creek Rock Breeding Project
2026 Offering Grouped by Attributes:
Dual Purpose: Red Hatchet Breeding Pen, Bielefelder (2023 Import), Elk Creek Rock Breeding Project (German & Plymouth Lines), Pita Pinta Asturiana (Roxa), Swedish Flower Hen
Rainbow Eggs (Speckling Possible): Elk Creek Rock Breeding Project (Main Line), Sunset Highway Breeding Pen
Green (or Blue-Green) Eggs: Silverudd’s Blue
Darker Browns & Olive Eggs (Dark Speckling Very Likely): Gilded Martin Breeding Project
Rare Feather Patterns/Colors: Sunset Highway Breeding Pen, Elk Creek Rock Breeding Project (Main & German Lines), Red Hatchet Breeding Pen (50% Red/Buff based with barring)
Mottled Feathers: Pita Pinta Asturiana (Roxa), Swedish Flower Hen
Mottled Feathers Possible: Sunset Highway Breeding Pen (Most chicks have a 50% chance of having mottled feathers)
Pastured Breeding Flocks
We hope to contribute to the preservation and improvement of chicken genetic diversity, especially with respect to resilient, hardy breeds suitable for pastured or forested systems for small farms, homesteaders, and backyard chicken keepers.
Our breeding flocks are housed in mobile houses and movable pens that are periodically rotated across pasture, where they are working on our farm and revitalizing soil and improving organic matter content, as well as helping us produce compost for our cultivated fields. They are able to engage in natural foraging behaviors and are “predator wise.” In addition to what they forage, our breeding flocks eat certified organic, no-corn, no-soy feed, as well as produce from our cultivated fields. Learn more about our farming practices here.
We are in the process of planting a dedicated chicken orchard to provide both additional forage and a protective “understory” for the chickens.
Breeding Projects vs. Breeds
We place great importance on the ability to select birds that are hardy and resilient in a semi-free-range environment and maintaining a diverse gene pool. We are also deeply interested in the ability to select for rare feather patterns and egg colors as we choose, rather than adhering to an established Standard of Perfection for an established breed. We are, however, very committed to breeding and preserving the Pita Pinta Asturiana (Roxa).
Instead of pretending that our breeding projects are equivalent to established breeds with guaranteed outcomes as we see some others do (inevitably leading to disappointment when the chick doesn’t grow up to be anything like the “breed” photo, or lay the promised egg color for that matter), we are transparent about the status of our breeding flocks and the expected variety in the offspring.
We wish more breeders and hatcheries would be transparent about the issues and faults they see in their flocks so that the novice chicken keeper would have reasonable expectations. You will see on our breeding pages that we have tried to be quite transparent ourselves!
Humane Hatching & Superior Customer Service
As a small-scale, humane hatchery, we sell our chicks straight-run, meaning each chick has a 50% chance of being male or female. So, if you want to end up with 6 hens, you will want to order at least 12 chicks. It is entirely possible for a hatch to be more than 50% males, but the greater the number of chicks, the more likely the 50% split is achieved. Read about keeping roosters on our Tips page. We aim to provide extra chicks with every order, so that you are more likely to get the number of hens that you want.
If you’ve made the choice not to order from a large scale hatchery that stresses chicks by sexing them and inhumanly slaughters unwanted male chicks, we think that you should also expect superior customer service. Our goal is to deliver on that expectation.
We go to great lengths to make sure our breeding flocks are separated and to keep eggs and chicks properly identified during the incubation and hatching process. We do not substitute one breed/line for another without your agreement. We will keep you updated throughout the incubation process and will even provide an identifying photo after hatch so that you know which chick is which!
Transport box(es) with lined bottoms and hot-hand warmers are always provided to help your chicks on their journey to their new home.
Chick Ordering Process & Policies – Farm Gate Pickup Only
We do not ship chicks, and in 2026 we are offering chicks for “farm-gate” pickup. We have a 6-chick minimum per order. Orders must be finalized at least 35 days prior to the requested pick-up/delivery date.
To start an order, choose a meetup/delivery date from the Available Dates below, then submit an Order Request Form. Available dates are not guaranteed until we confirm and your invoice is timely paid. We will follow up (usually within 24 hrs) with any questions/delivery quote and a digital invoice via Square to be paid online (Credit/Debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App, and Bank/ACH accepted). Your invoice must be paid within 48 hrs of receipt to reserve the pick-up date.
We incubate extra eggs for every order and aim to provide extra chicks, however, sometimes nature has other ideas. If enough chicks do not hatch to meet your order, we will give you the opportunity to choose substitutions, reschedule your hatch, receive a refund for the missing part of the order, or cancel your order and receive a full refund. In the event unforeseen circumstances occur and we are forced to cancel your order, we will provide a full refund.
We do not vaccinate chicks on our farm. If you are planning to vaccinate your chicks yourself, please let us know in the Notes on the Order Request Form.
Please be certain of your order before submitting the Order Request Form. You may cancel your order 60 days or more prior to your meetup/delivery date for a full refund less a $20 admin fee. You may cancel your order 7-60 days prior to your meetup/delivery date for a 50% refund of the cost of the poultry and 100% refund of the delivery fee (if applicable). If you choose to cancel your order within 6 days of your meetup/delivery date, or you fail to pickup your chicks, you will forfeit 100% of the cost of your order.
Started (guilt-free) Pullets – Farm Gate Pickup Only
On a very limited basis we are offering started, coop-ready pullets from some of our breeding groups. Please see our Availability page for our started pullet offering. Pullets must be purchased in pairs or more. Because we never cull baby chicks for being male, for every pullet sold, we be raising, with the exact same level of care, a cockerel to maturity, and, if he does not get a breeding pen or a ticket to join our bachelor flock, he will be humanely processed on our farm.
Started pullets are offered on a rolling basis, and the earliest orders will be filled in early June. Please be certain of your decision before placing a pullet order and reach out to us if you have any questions. There are no refunds for cancelled pullet orders. If for any reason we are unable to fill your order, we will provide 100% refund.
Hatching Eggs – Farm Gate Pickup Only
We are excited to offer hatching eggs to those with incubators! Hatching eggs are offered on a rolling basis and will be filled second in priority to chicks without a guaranteed pickup date. If you like to start really early, we will begin filling orders in early February, but please note that our Swedish Flower Hens and Gilded Martin groups are not low-light layers, so you are not likely to receive those orders until April at the earliest. We are not offering Pita Pinta Asturiana Roxa hatching eggs in 2026, as they are our most difficult hatchers.
We cannot guarantee hatching or fertilization rates, but our breeding flocks are small, and almost every egg that we crack in the kitchen is fertilized! We hope that you will have a good hatch rate, and we will care for your eggs in exactly the same manner as we do our own hatching eggs. Hatching eggs will be laid within 7 days of your pickup date. Please see our Availability page for our Hatching Egg offering. If for any reason we are unable to fill your order, we will provide 100% refund.
Available Dates & Price List
Check back soon for 2026 breeding plan updates!
Have Questions?
If you have questions before placing an order, the best way to get in touch is to reach out on our contact page.
Have a lonely chick?
Yikes! Get that little one some buddies ASAP. Please reach out to folks who hatch without having preorders or check the feed store. We incubate to order and hatch for our own breeding plans; we do not have “extra” chicks hanging around.
All About Egg Colors
Tips for Successful Brooding & Flock Care
Ready to Order? Fill out our Order Request Form here.
Perennial Hill, LLC 